Journalist beaten up in Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar's party says...

A journalist was attacked by a group in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district. The police have registered a non-cognisable offence against three-four persons under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The journalist, identified as Sandeep Mahajan from Pachora, had reportedly raised the case of rape and murder of a minor girl in the area and criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the incident.

Following this, Shiv Sena MLA Kishor Patil verbally abused the journalist. The purported audio clip of the conversation has been shared several times on social media platforms.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, Sandeep Mahajan was beaten by some locals on the road. In a video of the incident, Sandeep Mahajan was seen being pulled down from his two-wheeler and kicked and punched by some people.

Mahajan then lodged a complaint and the police registered a non-cognisable offence against three-four persons under Indian Penal Code Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Meanwhile, Clyde Crasto, spokesperson of Sharad Pawar’s NCP, condemned the attack on the journalist.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Crasto said, “Is Maharashtra heading for 'Goonda Raj'? 1. Assault on Journalist Sandeep Mahajan by goons of Eknath Shinde’s MLA Kishor Patil because Mahajan did his duty and reported the truth. 2. Raj Surve, son of MLA Prakash Surve, also from Shinde group kidnaps a businessman (sic).”

Calling the incidents “condemnable and dangerous for society”, Crasto said, “CM Shinde ji and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis must take immediate cognisance and get these goons arrested, or people like these will have a free run of crime because they know they are connected to power.”